A Good Read

Latest Episodes:

Gail Honeyman and Mavis Cheek Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

Authors Gail Honeyman and Mavis Cheek join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Charlotte Bronte, Catherine O'Flynn and Penelope Fitzgerald.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Publisher: Penguin Classics

What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn Publisher: Profile Books

The Beginning of Spring by Penelope Fitzgerald: Publisher: Fourth Estate

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.

Sarah Phelps and Dane Baptiste Feb 11, 2020

Show notes

Screenwriter Sarah Phelps and comedian Dane Baptiste talk to Harriett Gilbert about books they love. Sarah chooses Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote, Harriett's pick is A View of the Harbour by (the other) Elizabeth Taylor and Dane defends Weapons of Mass Instruction, a critique of contemporary schooling by John Taylor Gatto. Please follow us on Instagram at @agoodreadbbc Producer Sally Heaven.

Syima Aslam & Stig Abell Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

Co-founder of the Bradford Literature Festival, Syima Aslam and journalist Stig Abell join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Jane Austen, JK Rowling and Virginia Woolf.

Both are part of the expert panel that chose the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Publisher: Penguin

Orlando by Virginia Woolf Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2020.

Nick Hornby & Carlo Rovelli Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

Author Nick Hornby and Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli join Harriett Gilbert to discuss favourite books by Viv Albertine, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Tobias Wolf.

‘Throw Away, Unopened’ by Viv Albertine. Publisher: Faber

‘White Nights’ by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Publisher: Penguin

‘Old School’ by Tobias Wolff Publisher: Bloomsbury

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2020.

Russell Kane & Sarah Perry Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

Comedian Russell Kane and novelist Sarah Perry join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Iris Murdoch, Heinrich Boll and Shirley Jackson.

The Train Was On Time by Heinrich Boll, translated by Leila Vennewitz Publisher Penguin

Under the Net by Iris Murdoch Publisher Vintage

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson, her slightly fictionalised memoir. Publisher Penguin

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019.

Nemone Metaxas and Raymond Antrobus Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

DJ and former athlete, Nemone Metaxas and deaf poet and educator Raymond Antrobus join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Patrick Modiano, Jay Bernard and Dolly Alderton.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton, Publisher: Penguin

Surge by Jay Bernard Publisher: Chatto & Windus

Honeymoon by Patrick Modiano Publisher: David R. Godine

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2019.

Damian Le Bas & Amy Liptrot Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

Authors Damian Le Bas and Amy Liptrot join Harriet Gilbert to discuss their favourite books by Jessie Greengrass, Kathleen Jamie and Dorthe Nors.

‘An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk, According to One Who Saw It’ by Jessie Greengrass. Publisher: John Murray

‘Sightlines’ by Kathleen Jamie. Publisher: Sort of Books

‘Mirror Shoulder Signal’ by Dorthe Nors. Publisher: Pushkin Press

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019.

Photo of Damian Le Bas by Charles Moriarty

Stewart Lee & Dave Haslam Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

Comedian Stewart Lee and DJ and author Dave Haslam join Harriett Gilbert to discuss their favourite reads by Steve Aylett, Olivia Laings and Chris Paling.

Lint by Steve Aylett Publisher: Snowbooks

The Lonely City by Olivia Laings Publisher: Picador

Reading Allowed by Chris Paling Publisher: Constable

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2019

Photo by Steve Ullathorne

Lisa Jewell & Aditya Chakrabortty Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Author Lisa Jewell and economics commentator Aditya Chakrabortty join Harriett Gilbert to talk about their favourite books by Amit Chaudhuri, Liz Nugent and Rose Tremain.

Afternoon Raag by Amit Chaudhuri Publisher: Oneworld

Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent Publisher: Penguin

Rosie: Scenes from a Vanished Life by Rose Tremain Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.

Photo credit: Andrew Whitton

John Gordon Sinclair & Kerry Ellis Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Actor John Gordon Sinclair and West End star Kerry Ellis join Harriett Gilbert to choose their favourite books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sophie Kinsella and Cees Nooteboom.

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Translator: Gregory Rabassa Publisher: Penguin

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella Publisher: Black Swan

The Following Story by Cees Nooteboom Translator: Ina Rilke Publisher: Vintage

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.

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